Bridle-blind



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

J. W. EMMONS.

BRIDLE BLIND.

No. 571,944. Patented NOV; Z4, 1896.

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2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

J. w. EMMONS. BRIDLE BLIND. I No. 571,944. Patented Nov. 24,1896.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIcE.

JOHN W. EMHONS, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

BRlDLE-BLIND.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 571,944, dated November 24, 1896.

Application filed April 29, 1896.

0 all whom, it may concern: 7

Be it known that I, JOHN W. EMMONS, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Blinds for Use on Race-Horses, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part thereof, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

This invention relates to devices which are designed for aids in starting horses in a race, and the object thereof is to provide a shield or cover for the eyes of a horse, which is adapted to be connected with a bridle in such manner as to blindfold the horse until the instant of starting, at which time the blindfold may be removed; a further object being to provide a device of this class which may be operated by the jockey, and which is simple in construction and operation, and perfectly adapted to accomplish the result for which it is intended.

The invention is fully disclosed in the following specification, of which the accompanying drawings form a part, in which Figure l is a side view of a horse provided with a bridle to which my invention is applied and showing a jockey mounted on the horse; Fig. 2, a front view of the bridle; Fig. 3, an edge view of the blindfold or shield which I employ, and Fig. 4 a side view thereof.

In the practice of my invention I secure to the vertical side straps A' of a bridle, at'each side, a frame a, which is provided with a hinged cover or shield B, and the cover or shield B is hinged to the frame at b, and connected with the hinge cover or shield is a spring b which is adapted to raise the cover or shield or throw it upward into the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3. Secured to the lower side of the frame a is a spring-catch D, which is adapted to operate in connection with a depending lug or projection d, which is secured to or formed in the lower side of the shield or cover B, and pivotally connected with the lower side of .the frame a at E is a crank-lever F, one arm of which is connected with an eye or loop secured to the lower side of "the spring-catch D Serial No. 589,487. (N0 model.)

at G".. I also provide a pair of supplemental reins g, which are connected with the cranklever F, as shown in Fig. 4c, and said supplemental reins are under the control of the jockey, as shown in Fig. 1.

The bridle is also provided with the usual reins H, and the operation will be readily understood from the foregoing description,

nying drawings,-and the following statement thereof.

It is a fact well understood thatit is almost impossible to start a number of horses in a race under ordinary circumstances, so as to give all an equal chance or to start all on anything like an even line, and the object of this invention is to overcome this difficulty, and by blinding the horses, so that they cannot see what is going on or see one another until the instant of starting, this trouble can be overcome.

At the instant of starting, or when the horses are in proper posit-ion, the jockey pulls on the supplemental reins g and the springcatch D is at once released from the lug or projection d on the shield or cover, and said shield or cover is raised into a horizontal position by the spring b The opening in the frame a is shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4E, and is slightly oblong in form; but this feature is immaterial, and said opening,together with the frame in which it'is formed and the shield or cover, may be also circular in form, if desired.

The bridle is of the usual construction, with the exception of my improvement, which is connected therewith and needs no further description; and my improved device is perfectly adapted to accomplish the result for which it is intended, and it is evident that changes in and modifications of the construction herein described may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention or sacrificing its advantages; and I reserve the right to make all such alterations therein and modifications thereof as fairly come within the scope of the invention.

Having fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. The combination with a bridle, of frames which are secured to the sides thereof, and

when taken in connection with the accompaadapted to cover or inclose the eyes of a horse, said frame being provided with spring-operated shields or covers, which are adapted to be held in a closed position by spring-catches, and a supplemental rein connected with said spring-catches, substantially as shown and described.

2. The combination witha bridle, provided with the usual reins, and of the usual construction, of means for blindfolding a horse, consisting of frames, which are secured to the sides of the bridle, and which are provided with shields or covers, which are hinged to the upper sides thereof, and which are adapted to be thrown upwardly, or opened by a spring, said shields or covers being held in the closed position, by spring-catches which are adapted to be operated, substantially as shown and described.

3. The combination with a bridle, provided the upper sides thereof, and which are adapted to be thrown upwardly, or opened by a spring, said shields or covers being held in the closed position by spring-catches, and a supplemental rein connected with said springcatches, by means of a crank-lever, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed my name, in presence of the subscribing witnesses, this 27th 35 day of April, 1896.

1 JOHN W. EMMONS.

lVitnesses:

CHARLES S. ROGERS, O. MARRIN. 

